Apparatus for manufacturing locking devices



Jan. 29, 1957 C. H. BORNER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LOCKING DEVICES Original Filed Dec. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-sheet 1 HIS ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 29, 1957 c. H.- BORNER 2,779,039

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LOCKING DEVICES original Filed nec. 18, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 2 HYD/iAuLlc PREssu/:E t souace lNvENroR. CARL H. BORNER HIS ATTORNEYS.

c. H. BoRNER 2,779,039

PPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LOCKING DEVIFCES Jan. 29, 1957 4 Sheets-Shea?I 3 Original Filed Dec. 18, 1950 INVENTOR CARL H. BORNER BY MA1@ @w WLM',

Vm HIS ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 29, 1957 c. H. BORNER 2,779.039

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LOCKING DEVICES Original Filed Dec. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Shea?I 4 V N: W

N2 l U 2: mi: NQ ri i- MQ m en 1 1 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LOCKING DEVCES Carl H. Burner, Dumont, N. I., assgnor to The Nylok Corporation, New York, N. Y.,`a corporation of Delaware Original application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,468. Divided and this application February 19, 1954, Serial No. 411,438

7 Claims. (Cl. 10-72) The invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing lock nuts and the like and it relates more particularly to automatic machine tools for converting nut blanks into lock nuts of the type wherein a plug of nylon or similar resilient material inserted in a hole in the wall of the nut engages and is deformed bythe threads of a bolt or the like to prevent turning and loosening of the nut by vibration or other unintentional causes.

This is a division of my U. S. application, Serial No. 201,468, filed December 18, 1950, now abandoned.

In accordance with the present invention a nut blank having a central unthreaded opening is converted into a completed lock nut of the type described above by forming a hole through one side of the nut blank, the hole having a shoulder between its ends to act as a retaining member for the nylon or other plug. After the hole is formed in the nut blank, the central opening of the nut is threaded or tapped, which operation also removes any burrs or roughness that may be left during the formation of the hole to receive the plug. At the conclusion of the threading or tapping operation, the plug of nylon or similar resilient material is forced into the hole in the nut so that the plug seats against the shoulder and is deformed enough to protrude into the threaded opening in the nut. Thereafter, the metal around the outer end of the hole is peened or punched to overlie at least partially the outer end of the plug to secure the plug permanently in position.

In accordance with the invention, l have provided an automatic machine tool whereby all of the operations on the nut can be accomplished automatically and finished lock nuts of the type described can be produced quickly and in large volume with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator of the machine.

Generally, the new machine tool includes a table or support which is arranged to be indexed step-by-step past a plurality of automatically operated tools for operating on the nut blanks. The table is provided with a plurality of fixtures around its periphery, each of which is adapted to receive an unthreaded nut blank in such a position that one dat face of the nut is directed outwardly. As the table is indexed step-by-step, the nut blanks are introduced in pairs into the lixtures and are moved past automatically actuated drills which drill a rst hole partially through the nut with one drill and then iinish drilling the hole through the wall of the nut with a smaller drill to thereby form an outwardly facing shoulder in the hole in the nut. As the table is indexed, the nuts move in pairs beneath automatically actuated tapping spindles which tap or thread the center opening in the nuts. The drilled and tapped nuts are advanced in pairs in front of plug forming and inserting devices which sever small plugs from an advancing rod of nylon or similar resilient material and force these plugs into holes in the walls of the nuts. The plugs are forced into the holes with sufficient force to cause the plugs to be deformed so that their inner ends project a short distance into the threaded opening in the United States Patent nut. The nut blanks are again advanced in pairs in front of a pair of punch members which peen over the metal around the outer ends of the holes containing the plugs and thereby anchor or secure the plugs permanently in the nuts.

The above-described machine tool is constructed and arranged so that the indexing of the work table and the operation of the several tools are properly timed in order to accomplish their several functions in the proper order and with a minimum of attention so that high speed production of the lock nuts is obtained.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a view in vertical cross section through a typical form of lock nut produced in accordance withthe method and by means of a machine tool embodyingthe linvention;

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section through a machine tool of the type embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the work supporting table and illustrating the arrangement of the several tools for cooperation with the work table;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of novel device for forming and inserting the nylon or resilient plugs in the lock nuts;

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation and partly in section and broken away of the plug cutting and inserting device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation and partly in section and broken away of a peening punch for peening the metal of the nut to retain the lock plugs in the nut; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a drilling tool for drilling holes in the nut blanks.

T he present invention will be described using a machine tool of known type as a basic structure upon which the completed machine is built. The basic machine tool may be an automatic twin spindle tapping machine manufactured by the Bodine Corporation of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and identified in their catalog, copyrighted 1945, as the No. 48 tapping machine.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the type of article to be produced with my new machine is a nut member 10 having an internally threaded opening 11 for receiving a bolt, screw or the like and having positioned in its side wall a plug 12 of nylon or similar material. The plug is retained in position by means of a shoulder 13 formed at the intersection of a larger bore 14 and a smaller inwardly positioned bore 15 and by means of peened over edges 16 engaging the outer end of the plug 12.

The operations to produce this nut by means of the machine tool described hereinafter consist, in sequence, in drilling the larger bore 14 partially through the nut, then drilling the smaller bore 15 to complete the hole through the side wall of the nut, tapping the nut to form the threads in the opening l1, inserting a plug of uniform cross section into the hole with sumcient force to defonn it and cause it to assume the shape shown in Fig. 1 and thereafter peening the metal around the bore 14 to form the peened over edges 16 to retain the plug in position.

As indicated above, the machine tool shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing is based on the Bodine No. 48 tapping machine. inasmuch as this machine is well known both structurally and in its operation, only a brief description of its features are given herein. The tapping machine includes a base frame member 20 which carries an upright hollow casing 21 which houses and supports the main drive shaft 22 of the machine. The drive shaft Z2. is driven by means of an electric motor 23 mounted on the base frame member Ztl. The motor 23 is connected by means of a pulley 24, a multiple belt 2S, a pulley 26,A

y reciprocating cross ahead .member :member is' slidableinwertical tracksQ .in upper end 'closed in Fig. l.

.aflverticaltshaft 31which carries onnitsuppenenda disc- 'like work i supportinglltable H32. fShaft 3i :is rotatably mounted infanextension 331frornthe-casingiend is i provided with adjustingtmeans for rfglating. itstvertical position.

4TheshaftZZ alsoidrives acranklSti-iwhiclctnactuates a loc-kend release mechanism f3.5 tolocl; alternately the tableagainst rotationfand-release ittor rot-.ation by means othe pawl-ratchet 'd1-ive.

'The upperfend-of 'thedrive shaftZZ.A carries a pair. of. opposed cam members/361and-S'for driving a-vertically The cross head of the casing 2l so that the cross head can move ytoward vand .awaytrom`the-workisupporting table The inwardly extendingbracitetfdt? on-'thecross head carries Y a-cam'rollerf/tlwhichlengages between thecam members 36 and 37 so that rotation of these cam members produces an up and-downmovemencof'the cross head 36 with a slight-dwell atV the tcp and bottom of `its stroke.

Tappingnneans.toitapping or threading a-pair of nutscr other elementsare carried byand'rnovable .with the cross head and are driven astollows. At the uppertnost end of the.- shaft 12 is a crank disc ft2 carrying a cranio pin 153 which may be adjusted radially ofthedisc 42 by 'means oa threaded shaftllt. yThe crank pin engages in a slotin a gear sector-'t6 which is pivotally supported at its left-hand end on the vertical pivotpin4 or shaft-d'7 mounted in the `upper end of the casing,7 21.

lllotation of the shaft 22 causes oscillation of the gear sector fit; and back and forth rotation of the barrel gear t3 which meshes with-the-sector. The barrel gear is mounted in suitable bearings t9V and 50 1in thev casing 211 and has a largergeanfl fixed-to it. The ygear 5l meshes with an elongated gear 52 mounted in bearings 53 andfSlt inthe upperend ofthe cross head 38 so that the'gearsfl and'SZ remain in mesh during- `up and down movement of the crosshead 3S.

The gcar?. is connectedby means 7of a suitable-gear train S with a pair of tapping spindles'dand E57fpro- -vided Ewith chucks at their lower: ends to receivethe tapin or threadinff tools' arid'ig. "Theta ingfs indles P e e V Sdandi' move with lthecross head and'their'g'earratio with respect to the movement 'of the cross -headnis such that upon downward movement-ef 'the `cross lhead, ias described, they -will cut-threads `otApredetermined sizer in the work below 'them and --will retract due to thenreverse rotation imparted -to them `by osc'itlatingfmovementof the sector 4e'. Adjustment of the cranklpintd? enables the rotation of the spindles 56 and 57 to be adjusted-itc various thread sizes and pitches.

in accordance with the present invention,ftheabovedescribed machine tool is modiied as follows 'to' render it suitable for the vproduction ot nuts ot theltypedis- The tapping spindles St'andftT-zare shown in ldotted lines in'Fig. 3 inth'eirfre1ation1'tothe work supporting table'Z. The work supporting "table is provided with a plurality of lixtares Gtviarranged in a circle adjacent the edge et the table V32. These ctixtures, asbest shown in Figs. 3, and y6, include a tiared base portion 6l screwed or otherwise secured -tofthel'table 3.2 and an upright angerportion 62 having a notch drin it adapted to engage the two adjacent faces on opposite sides of the mit blank ltso that the dat -innerand outer faces and Mb of the -nut are exposed. Thewnuts are held firmly in yposition against inward-or outward displacement but they can be removed readily through the top -ot` the notch d in thetixture 6i).

The nuts ted inV pairs'into "theitixtures' by-fmeans otapair ot' automatic .nut feeding chutesi andadof conventional Atype. '.s'shown n Fig. 3, the chutes -65 and 6d are spaced three fixtures apart.

The ,table32;is. arranged Vto beindexeda distance lequal to the spacing between three xtures at each movement of the pawl 3@ and the nuts are fed into the fixtures in suitably timed relation, as described.

As illustrated, the wcrntable carries thirty-two of the tixtnresdvandsixteen stepsare required `for-a complete revolution. As the nuts arecarried by the tabie 32 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig.' ltheypass'by stationsat which the drills "67,68, '69 and 7@ are'locatd. 'The 'drills 67 and 69 carry drill bits it suitable for drilling the larger bore .t4 in the nut, .as-showt lFig. l. The-'drillsle and7tl carry drill bits f7-Z ofte Vsizetobdrillfthef-smallerhole l5 in the nut 10, as shown in Fig. 1.

The indexing of the 4table 32 brings the nut blanks A introduced from the hopper 65 into alignment successively with the drills d'7 and 68 while the nut blanks B introduced from! the chute t'linto the tixturesare'never aligned I with the drills' -and168lbut do come yinto alignment-in succession -with.fthe-'drills '69 andf't. Likewise-the Jnuts drilled'fby means of the==dril1s1 t?? fand.eiareneverlaligned flwithxthe drills '569 and-'ftltbecause of the twolixture indexing fof theiworlc table 32.

Thennts A2-introducedthrough the chute'corne in `succession beneath the ltappingvspindle' while thenuts B introduced frornf the chute 66 come beneath the tapping spindle L57 and are tapped at -thesefstations Thev nuts then travel inlfrontloftheplug:formingand'vinserting de- -vices 7e?.y and 76,-ltobe l'described-rhereinaften and-then intolalignmentvwithf "-tlmept1nchingl or ypeening devices 77 andVSfa-fter.whiche-theytarendeXed further vand ejected at Vthe. chute '79. "The-stations at which thenutsAandB are-drilled, tapped,1p1ugged *andy peened arerindicated in l Fig.l3. bythe-letters A1 andLfB.

-which iszprovided atlits vinnerend with-ta chuckZv for .receiving Ithedrill. 71. -Thedrillspindle 81 isidriven by v.means olL apulley 83fand= a belttSf-l which also .engages a pulley "35, Fig.1i2, :driven continuously `by -means ot` an electric motor-"36. A'Themotor-36 is mounted yon a'tixed platform"iti'fwhichuis-supported:by means of spacer rods tide on the platform d3 which extends around the table '32.

frlfleferring'bach to'Fig. 7,. the spindlexSl is rotatable but axially tinedfrelativetoa raclcsleeve S9 which is guided forzaxiarmovementin the .casing .8th `The rack sleeve ft2@ .nieshesw-ith -.a gearztia.supported` vfor 'rotation on a shaft 9G extending transverselyfofthe casing and carrying 'onioueienda crank '91. The crank 91 is connected to a Vclef/is 93l on .theblower .1 end zot". a y.push rod 914v having its Vupper'.end-s'lid'ably.received inza transverse -platef95 carfried-by and..lmo`vable with the cross" head ."l`herpts'n 1'odr94 hasaantadjustable co1lar'96 and it is engageable'by :the platt-:95 during downwardmovementf to rock. the gear e259 and therebysadvaucethe drill-"Zl-.radislly fof theftable. j.'lo fallow freedom fof .movementfof the crossypiate 9S relativetorthe"push-rod94,.a1spring 97 is interposed beltween-.Ithe:upper surface of the cro-ss plate and the vhead flwonrthe lupper rirnof lthepush rod. With this, arrangemena/fthe drillsftfand 72.areadvanced as the tapping .spindlesflmovef downwardly". so thattour `of the nuts are fsubjected'ftotdrillingoperations whiletwo of the nuts are :being tappe'dsorthreaded. Also,y thedrills--are retracted lasfthettapping` spindlesare retracted to enable the table -to'be indexed.

-Thetools'75=and 76.for `formingand inserting the pings in the-drill-theles -oflthe nut -will now be described. Ina-smuch'as theseforming-and insertingdevifes are identicalyonlyftheto'ol'76 willbe described. Thev forming and Vinserting.device 7d-is bestshown inF-igs. -t and' 5 .and is vcharacterized bytthetvability-to severfplugsvoi suitable dimension-s from an elongated or continuous rod of nyion o r similar resilient material. Heretofore, no eiective means has been provided for handling nylon in continuous lengths and producing frofn it a satisfactory plug because of the inherent toughness and resistance` to shearing which characterize nylon. The shearing and inserting mechanism 76 includes a base block 100 which is mounted on the xed table88 adjacent to work table 32. The block 100 carries at its upper end a tubular extension 101 having a bearing sleeve 102 therein, in which is reciprocably mounted a hollow feeding and guide tube 103 through which the nylon rod N passes. The inner end of the tube 103 carries a liared enlargement 104 having a generally conical or tapered inner surface 105. Bearing against this inclined surface are a plurality of chuck or gripping jaws 106, 107 which have complementally inclined outer surfaces and curved opposed inner surfaces which deiine a circular passage of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the nylon rod when the jaws are closed. The jaws are normally urged to the left to closed position by means of a helical spring S which engages their right hand end faces and the inner surface of a cap member 109 threaded into the end of the casing 104. The cap 109 has a central opening 110 Y permitting passage of the nylon rod therethrough.

The tubular member 103 is reciprocated axially by means of a bell crank lever 111 which is mounted by means of a pivot pin 113 on an arm 112 extending upwardly and tothe left from the tubular extension 101. The lowermost arm 111a of the bell crank is connected by means of a pin and slot connection to a headed member 114 threaded `on and fixed to the tubular guide member 103. As shown in Fig. 4, the tubular guide member is normally urged to the right to advance the rod N by means of springs 115 connected between the pins 117 on the member 114l and the pins 118 ixed to the extension 101. The tubular member 103 is moved to the left by means of a downwardly extending arm 119 fixed to the cross head 38. The arm 119 carries an adjustable set screw 120, the lower end of which engages the horizontally extending arm 111b of the bell crank 111 so that as the cross head moves down the tubular member 103 moves to the left. Upward movement of the cross head allows the spring 115 to move the tubular member 103 to the right at the same time advancing the nylon rod N because of the gripping engagement of the jaws 106 and 107 with the rod.

The nylon rod is advanced into a guide tube 121 which is also threaded into an extension 122 from-the base block 100. The guide tube121 is in alignment with the tubular member 103 and is'also provided at its left-hand end with an oppositely acting rod gripping mechanism 123.` This rod gripping mechanism includes a cap member 124 threaded on the end of the guide tube 121 and having inclined or tapered or conical surfaces 125 inclined'in the same direction as the surface 105 of the opposed gripping device. Separate gripping jaws 125 engage vthe inclined surface andare urged toward each other to closed position by the action of the helical spring 127 engaging their right-hand ends and a shoulder 128 at the left-hand end of the tube 121. The action of 'the gripping member 124 is directly opposite to that of the gripping member carried by the tubular member 103, in that, it prevents the rod N from moving to the left with the tubular member 103 but permits the rod to be advanced to the right by means of the gripping member on the tubular'member 103. ln this Way, reciprocation of the member 103 and the gripping device thereon feeds the rod N step-by-step to the right.

As the rod moves to the right it enters a die plate 130 at the right-hand end of the guide 121 and projects into a vertical slot 131 in the extension 122. The end of the rod N abuts against a stop screw 131a threaded through the outer Wall 122a of the extension 122.

The slot 131 receives a shear member 132 which is reciprocated vertically by means of a push rod 133 connected at its upper end to the cross head 38. The lower end o-f the push rod 133 carries a clevis 134 which straddles the upper thickened end 135 of the shear member and is secured to it by means of a pin 136. The shear member 132 is provided with a hardened insert 137 having a central opening 138 to receive the end of the nylon rodv when the shear member is in its highest position.

As the shear member is moved down by the descending cross head 38, the end section of the nylon rod is sheared oft to form the plug 12 and moves downwardly with the shear member into alignment with a hollow tubular nipple 139 which has its inner end positoined in alignment with a hole in a nut 10 during a dwell period of the work table 32. The plug 12 is forced out of the opening 136 by means of a punch 140 and through the nipple 139 and into the hole 14, 15 drilled in the nut 12. The punch is positioned in therecessed end of a rod 141 which is slidable in a sleeve or bushing 142 mounted in an opening in the base plate 100 near its mid portion. The left-hand end of the plunger or shaft 141 is secured to a cross bar 143, which in turn is mounted on the piston rod 144.01 an air cylinder 145. The air cylinder 145 is supplied with air from an outside source -of ai-r pressure. The air cylinder is controlled by`means `of a suitable selector valve 146o actuated by means of a caml 14617 on the drive shaft 22 so that air pressure is supplied to the air cylinder to project the piston rod 144 quickly and then retract it while the cross head 3S is in its lowest position. In this way, when the shear member 132 with the severed plug in it comes into alignment with the nipple 130, the cylinder 145 is actuated to move the punch 140 to the right through the opening 138 thereby forcing the plug from the opening through the nipple 139 and forcing it under high pressure into the opening 14, 15 in the wall of the nut to seat the plug vagainst the shoulder and partially extrude or deform it so that it extends into the threaded opening 11 of the nut, as shown in Fig. l. T he punch 140 is retracted before the cross head begins to move upwardly and thereby does not jam in the shear member 132.

The stroke of the punch 140 can be closely regulated by means of a set screw 147 screwed into the base 100 and engaging the end of the cross plate 143 at the limit of the outward stroke of the piston. The cylinder carries a safety switch 148 which stops the machine if the punch 140 is not fully returned. The switch is closed by engagement with the adjustable screw 14-9 carried by the cross bar 143. As shown in Figs. l and 5, the switch 148 is connected in parallel with a switch 14ga between a power terminal T and the motor 23. The other terminal T is connected to the motor. The switch 148e is opened and closed alternately by means of a cam 14817 on the drive shaft 22. The switch 143a is maintained closed during the time that the switch 148 would normally be open due to movement of the punch 140 and opens shortly after the punch would be expected to return to close the switch 148. Therefore, it' the punch does not return to close the switch 148, the circuit to the motor 22 is interrupted and the motor stops. The motor can be restarted by means of a manually actuated switch 143C in parallel with the switches 148 and 1484.

The limit of downward movement of the shear member 132 may be regulated by `'means of an adjustable screw 150 mounted in a lateral flange 151 on the clevis 134. The lower end of the screw is engageable with a hardened insert 152 screwed into an upwardly extending portion ofthe extension 122.

As explained above, after the plug 12 has been inserted in the nut, the metal around the outer end of the opening 14, 15 is peened over to retain the plug in position. This operation is accomplished by means of the punching or peening devices 77 and 7S, which are identical. The peening device 78 will be described herein. The peening device or tool includes a base mounted on the table 88 adjacent to and surrounding the work table 32. The

176 in the memberi.

base member "has van upwardly and laterally .curved arm "l'dkprovidcd with apivotpin .162 whichpivo'tally supports 'an .inverted generally Ushape'd .supporting member 163. The point ot pivot connectionbetweenthe arm161 and the U member is near the top 'of theleft-hand arm 164 ofthe member 1253.

The right-hand, downwardly extending arm 16S of the member 163 lcarriesan anvilimember 166'which is used" to 'back upthe nut 1d and preventit from being dislodged'irom the iixturei'i duringv thepeening operation. The anvil 166 hasa'fruSto-conical portionld? and hollow body portion 168 r for receiving the cylindrical end portion 169 .ot an adjusting screw'17). The adjusting screw is `threaded intoa bore 171 in the arm 165 and may be locked in adjusted position by 'means of `a'locknut 172. The anvil member 16,6 is' retained in adjustedposition by means of a locking screw 173 bearing against the yside 'of the anvil memberlled.

'Thebase of thememberl also carries holddown member 174 which engages the `top of the nutli) Aand prevents it from `moving upwardly or turning over 'during the peening operation. Theholddown member 17.4 ina clu'des a cyiintlrical body portion 175 slida'ble in aV bore The member 174 has a reduced section 177 which extends upwardly from the cylindrical portion 175 through a hollow externally threaded sleeve 17S. The .sleeve '17S is ,threaded into the upperend of the bore 176 and is locked in position by'means of a jam nut 179. The upper ond lili? of the reduced portion .177 is threaded receives a'pairof jam nuts 181m limit the downward movementy of the member 175 with espect to the member 163.

A helical spring 1532 engagesthickened section 175 and the lower end 'of the'slee've 17S to normally urge the hold-down member 174 downwardly. The spring 1u?. also allows resiliently opposed upward movement of the member 17d.

A rubber pressure block 1S3`mountedin a'cup on the end of a shaft 185 is 'threadedly connected to the lower end of the shaft 175. The threaded shaft 1&3. may be locked in adjusted position by means of jam nut 186.

The opposite arm 164 of the inverted U Amembercarries a hydraulic ram or jack 189 including a cylinder '190 having a reciprocable piston 191 therein. The cylinder 19u includes a tubular sleeve 192 slidablyreceiving the piston rod 193 and an enlarged hollow lcylindrical portion 19d. The piston is joined at its inner end yby means of a threaded connection 19S to the partially hollow piston 191. rl`he tubular portion'192 iits in an aperture 196 in the arm 164 and is clamped rin position by means of a pair of nuts 197 and 198 threaded on the threaded end portion 199 of the sleeve 192. The nuts 197 and 198 are jammed on the threaded portion v199 by means 'of one or more machinescrews Zilli passing through the nut 193 and screwed in the nut 197. cylinder portion 194 abuts the opposite side of the arm 164 and is held against rotation by means of a key 201.

Pfhe piston 191 is slidable in a cylinder portion 202 which is screwed into the left-hand end' of the'cylinder portion 194 against an aligning and piston stopping ring 203. The ring 263 abuis against an annular shoulder 2% in the cylinder portion 194. Leakage between the cylinder portions 19dand 262 is prevented by means of a compression type'packing gland 205.

The cylinder portion 2ll2 and the 'cylinder 'portion 194 are provided'with ports 266 Aand 207,`respectively, on opposite sides of the piston 191 whereby liquid can be supplied to or discharged from 'the jack 189 to reciprocate the piston 19,1.

The piston carries a rubber buer 203 'mounted on a holder 299 which is secure to the left-hand end of the piston 191. The buffer prevents the piston from striking, metal 'to metal, against the endof the cylinder '190. The 'rain or jack 189 is connected to the hydraulic system `S shown diagrammaticallyin "Figffi, and is con` the upper end o the (i il trolled'by. theselector valve'1`89a an'dv the 'camf189b on Vthe (drive shafti22 to advance'the punch i223 againstthe nutlll during the dwelljperiod of the table 32 and 'retract theI punch.

The inverted U member is rocked linto an'd out of operatingposition by means of apush ro'd209 slidable in'the cross head`38 and movable therebylby means of the springs-21tl and 211011 opposite sides of'the plate '95 which .engage 'the retaining vcollars 212 and 213 ixed tothe push rod'209. 'The push rod`209`is connected at its lower end by means of the clevis "214, and a cross pin 21S to an outstanding 'lug 216 on .the right-hand `end of'theU memberld. `During indexing movements of the table 32 and while the cross head 3S is in its upper position the hold-down member17d isv raisedto release the nut and move theanvil 166 away from' the nut.

Couuterclockwise rocking 'movement of the. U'shape'd member 163 and the elements mounted rthereon are limited by means oian adjusting 'screw 217 mountedin a liange 21S on the upper end ofthe arm 161. The screw is engageable with the upper surface of themember 163 to limit its counterclockwise movement. "Clockwise rocking of the member is limited by means of a stoplplate 219 carried by a stud '220 threaded intothe table extension SS. Thestop plate219 is engageable with the`lefthan`d end of the cylinder 19d andthereby'limits the rocking of the `U-shaped member in a clockwise 'direction. By suitably adjusting the stop plate 219 by means of the adjusting nuts 221 and 222 on vthe stud, the puncl1'223 which is mounted in a chuck 224 in the right-hand end of the piston lrod '193 can be aligned accurately with the hole 14, 15 in the nutduring the punching operation so as topeen the metal and thereby lock the plug 12 in position. The punch 223 may be of .square cross section and is retained in the chuck 224 by meansof a set screw 225, or the like.

After .the nut has been peened to secure theplug`12 in the hole 14, 15, indexing of the table '32 brings the lixtures with the iinished lock nuts into alignment with the chute 79 where the nuts may be removed from 'their iixtures either manually or, if desired, by .means of ejecting plungers (not shown) carried by the table '32.

From .the preceding description, it will be clear that a machine tool has been provided which is capable of producing finished lock nuts with great precision andat highprodnction rate from untapped nut blanks fed to and handled yautomatically yin the machine. `By.ut`ilizing two feed. hoppers and handling the nutsin pairs,.`the number of indexing operations of the machine are reduced and production rates' .are increased because no more time is required for machining operations on two of the nuts than would be required forconducting vthe same operations on asingle nut.

While the above-described machine .is the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that. it .is susceptible tomany changes. .For example, the machineincorporates, as indicatedabove, .the Bodine tapping machine as a basic apparatus but other .tapping machines and .other ormsof drive mechanisms for the crossl head, Vthe tapping spindles and the work table may be used, if desired. Moreover, other equivalent types of automatic drilling'tools, ejectors and xtures for supporting thenut blanks during the machining operations. may be used, ir" desired. Therefore, the .apparatus .disclosedherein should. be considered as illustrativeand .notas limiting the scope of the `following claims.

l claim:

l. A device for peening vlock nuts and' the. like comprising a movable work-supporting table,a plurality of .xtures on said table to receive nuts with the threaded apertures therein substantially perpendicular to saidtabIe, a supporting bracket adjacent to saidtable, agenerally inverted U-shaped member pivotally supported between its ends on said bracket and having one' free endoverlying said table inwardly of said fixturesv and the lother free end disposed outwardly of said fixtures, an anvil member mounted in said one end for adjustment substantially parallel with said table to engage the innerside of a nut blank carried by a fixture, a hold down Amember adjustably and resiliently mounted in said inverted U-shaped member for movement substantially perpendicular to said table for engagement with the top of a nut blank in said fixture, a hydraulic jack mounted in said other end of said inverted U-shaped member for movement therewith, a punch actuated by said jack and in alignment with and opposing said anvil to engage and peen the opposite side of said nut blank from said anvil, and means for moving said inverted U-shaped member to engage said hold down member with a nut blank and disengage said hold down member from said nut blank.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 comprising adjustable means for limiting pivoting movement of said inverted U-shaped member.

3. ln apparatus for making lock nuts comprising a rotary work table, a plurality of fixtures thereon for receiving nut blanks, means for rotating said table intermittently in a number of steps per revolution equal to one-half the number of fixtures on said table, a pair of nut blank feeding devices adjacent to the edge of said table for feeding nut blanks into fixtures spaced an odd number of fixtures apart around the table, a first pair of drilling means, one having a larger diameter drill than the other adjacent to the table, said drilling means being spaced an even number of fixtures apart to operate successively on the nut blanks supplied by one of said feeding devices and drill substantially -radial holes therein having an outwardly facing shoulder, a second pair of drilling means, one having a larger diameter drill than the other, said drilling means being spaced an even number of xtures apart and spaced from said first pair of drilling means a distance corresponding to the spacing between an odd number of fixtures to operate successively on the nut blanks supplied by the other feeding device and drill substantially radial holes therein, each having an outwardly facing shoulder, a pair of devices adjacent the table and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between an odd number of fixtures for cutting plugs of resilient material and inserting them in the holes in said nut blanks, and peening devices adjacent said table and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing between an odd number of fixtures to peen each nut around the outer end of the Ihole.

4. An apparatus set forth in claim 3 including a pai-r of tapping means movable toward and away from said table and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between an odd number of xtures to cut threads in a nut blank fed from each of said feeding means prior to insertion of the plugs therein.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which each plug cutting and inserting device includes an axially reciprocable member, first means movable with said member to grip said rod and advance it in one direction and release said rod as said first means moves in the opposite direction, second means aligned with said first means to receive and grip said rod as said rst means moves in said opposite direction and release said rod for advancing movement as said first means moves in said `one direction, a cut-off member having an opening therein to receive the leading end of said rod, means to move said member between a first position in w-hich said opening is alignment with said rod and a second position offset from said rod to shear olf a section from the leading end of said rod, and a reciprocable punch member movable through said opening when the latter is in said second position to eject said section from said opening.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which the plug cutting and inserting device includes a tubular guide member to receive a rod of resilient material, a shear member adjacent to one end of said guide member and movable substantially perpendicular to the axis of said guide member, said shear member having an opening therein to receive the leading end of said rod, a first gripping member carried by said guide member to receive said rod and permit it to move toward said shear member and prevent movement of said rod away from said shear member, a second oppositely acting gripping member `movable toward and away from said guide member, said second gripping member receiving and gripping said rod to advance said rod through the guide member, during movement toward the latter, and releasing said rod during movement away from said guide member, a reciprocable punch member adjacent to said guide member, means to move said shear member to sever from said rod the end of the latter extending into said opening and move said opening into alignment with said punch, and means to reciprocate said punch to move it through said opening to eject the severed end from the opening and with- -draw the punch from the opening.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which each of the gripping means comprises a casing having inclined inner surfaces, a plurality of jaws in said casing having inclined outer surfaces complemental to said surfaces of said casing and opposed inner surfaces collectively dening an opening for receiving said rod, and spring means engaging said jaws and urging them lengthwise of said inclined surfaces and toward each other and the rod, and in which the inclined surfaces of the casing of the first gripping means are inclined in the same direction as the inclined surfaces of the second gripping means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,170 Thomas Nov. 2l, 1905 1,921,403 Bell et al Aug. 8, 1933 2,070,032 Swanstrom Feb. 9, 1937 2,202,044 Chambers et al. May 28, 1940 2,499,104 Lovell Feb. 28, 1950 2,593,715 Adler et al. Apr. 22, 1952 2,594,201 Nasmith et al Apr. 22, 1952 2,643,403 McBlane et al. June 30, 1953 

